Page 114 of A Soul to Embrace

“I think you’re forgetting the cost of her enjoyment in receiving your garments,” he commented, flicking his gaze to Zylah before looking away. “You have been a welcoming attendant and made this much easier for her. Your reputation in customer service precedes you.”

“Oh, hush,” Goldie said, flapping one of her hands forward. “Everyone deserves to feel sublime and comfortable. I’m only here to dress canvases of beauty.”

He chuckled at that, while Zylah took the compliment even if it wasn’t meant for her.

“Ready to leave?” he asked her, and she nodded.

He put his hand on the small of her back again to lead her, and her feet were slow to move when she noticed howlowhis handplacement was. If he went any further down, he would have put his hand over her upward-pointing tail tuft.

Actually, she thought his pinkie may have touched the very tip of it.

He pulled the door open for her, the bell above ringing as he did, and ushered her forward. Zylah stepped onto the empty pathway, and he veered them to the right.

“Where are we going now?” she asked, anxiously looking around at the different signage.

She hoped it wasn’t anything that would be as awkward as Goldie’s Garments. But, now that she’d experienced such a setting, she may be more at ease with the next one.

“To a shoemaker,” he answered, his eyes never leaving their path like he knew exactly where he was going.

“Why?” She dipped her gaze towards his bare feet. “You don’t wear them.”

“It’s not for me. The Elvish don’t wear shoes, since we’re capable of using magic through our feet. We must touch the ground in order to do that.”

“But I don’t need them,” she argued. “I’m comfortable how I am.”

“You’re not making it easy to splurge on,” he answered with a mildly annoyed sigh. “Even if we walk out empty-handed, the experience is all that matters. It’ll also hurt less if someone steps on your toes.”

Zylah silently grumbled, but allowed him to lead the way without any more complaints. She did have a question, though.

“Why did Goldie call you puppy? What is that?” she asked, looking down at her new dress. Satisfaction radiated within her heart and mind as she watched the way it danced around her thighs. “She also called me doll. What is a doll?”

“A puppy is a baby dog, think like a wolf, and a doll is usually a pretty toy in the shape of a woman. The nicknames are meant tobe engaging, and it was Goldie sweetening you up so you would enjoy yourself. Since I didn’t give her my name, she used puppy as a way to refer to me – another way to sweeten the transaction in hopes we would give her a preferable trade. She’s always been like that. She’s very cunning when it comes to making her customers feel wonderful upon leaving her establishment.”

“Oh,” Zylah rasped, her head falling at the crushing realisation that hit her. “So she was only nice to me to get a good trade?”

He slowed their pace when he must have heard the dejected tone in her voice.

“No. I can tell she genuinely liked you by the end.”

She raised her head and turned it to him. “Why do you think that?”

His eyes narrowed in a way that almost appeared annoyed. “Because I’ve seen what it looks like when she doesn’t like the person she is tending to.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes before rolling them at the dark yellow that lifted into her orbs. “I’m assuming you want me to elaborate?”

Zylah nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Despite her youthful appearance, Goldie is almost as old as I am. She didn’t travel to this realm with me, but she was part of the first few swarms that came from Nyl’theria and she was quick to develop while she was here. She doesn’t look it, but she is an exceptionally skilled and ruthless hunter. Her interest in clothing was one of the reasons she had the most persistent voice in me creating this village. She actually hated hunting, and she refused to do any form of farming. Simply looking at her, you can tell she’s the kind of person who prefers to live luxuriously.”

“What does this have to do with her not liking the person she is tending to?”

His cheeks crinkled into a cringe, then he smoothed his expression. “I’m explaining that. As you know, I’ve been on Earth for hundreds of years, and there have been just as manyDemons who have as well.” His lips tightened as he turned his face to her while they walked, and he sighed in irritation. “If I wish to bring a female to go shopping for clothing, Goldie’s is where I always take them. She is the best in the village, not just in the quality of her clothing, but also in her professionalism.”

“You have taken other females there?”

Zylah didn’t know how she felt about that. A rather detestable feeling clung to her sternum, but she tried to shed it, as she didn’t understand why she was having such a reaction. Or why it made her orbs flicker a colour she’d never seen before: bright green.

Thankfully he didn’t see the change, and they morphed back to her normal teal before he turned his gaze to her again.

“Goldie and I have a good, although minimal, friendship. To your face, she is all smiles, but if she doesn’t like her customer, and there is no one else in the store to see, she will sneer behind your back. Her dislike of someone never changes how she treats a person, so everyone adores her no matter how she feels towards them. Difficult customers annoy her.”

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